Blog – Page 5 – Thorcon Shotcrete

The Best Conditions for Soil Nails in Slope Stabilization

Last month, we discussed the cost-effectiveness of soil nailing as a slope stabilization solution. Now, let’s look at the most favorable conditions for applying this method. At Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring, we design custom solutions to fit each project. From our headquarters in Littleton, Colorado, we have implemented soil nailing processes in many projects within our service area (which includes Denver, the rest of Colorado, as well as states in the surrounding region). For visual examples of soil nailing and our other methods, check out our gallery.

According to a report done for the Federal Highway Administration, soil nailing is most favorable (and cost-effective) under the following slope conditions:

Preferably, all soil nails will be implemented above the groundwater table.
Should any nails need to be below the water table, the conditions can still be favorable so long as the ground water doesn’t cause a problem with the bond strength of the grout, the excavation face, or the life of the nails, themselves.
In ideal conditions, the slope receiving the soil nails can stay standing without support for 24-48 hours at a 3-6 foot vertical cut.

In addition, certain ground types are preferable for soil nailing. Slopes which are comprised of other types of soils require different methods of slope stabilization. The following are the most favorable ground types for soil nailing:

Glacial soils
Weathered rock (provided there are no problematic weakness planes)
Stiff to hard cohesive soils
Dense to very dense granular soils (preferably with a level of cohesion)

Our engineers will analyze your particular ground type and stabilization needs before determining if soil nailing is the right course of action for your project. Whichever slope stabilization or soil erosion control method we implement, our team always completes each project with the utmost attention to detail, safety and client satisfaction. Contact Thorcon today to get started!

A Safety-Focused Civil Engineering Company

At Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring, we provide custom geotechnical engineering services and solutions with a focus on safety. From our headquarters in Littleton, Colorado (near Denver), we serve the state of Colorado as well as other states in the region, so we are used to adapting to local safety codes and standards as well as the national standards we always follow. When you contact us for your civil engineering project, our team of engineers will design a unique, custom solution which we can complete on-time and within your budget. Then, we will implement that solution with a team of highly trained, safety-focused specialists who, among other guidelines, are equipped to work within the safety standards of the following organizations:

OSHA: We follow the rules set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to not only provide our employees with a safe workplace, but also to empower each of our workers the ability to stop a job if they see any safety concern. Our team members are trained to keep every job site safe, which can avoid everything from minor injuries to on-site deaths (like those caused each year from unsafe trench shoring).
MSHA: When working to improve infrastructure in coal mines, we follow the regulations set forth by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which not only keeps workers safe during the project, but also avoids potential long-term health consequences.
BATF: If explosives are needed for excavation, we work under the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms which is responsible for overseeing the safe discharge of all explosives within the nation.
DOT: Infrastructure improvement often falls under the purview of the Department of Transportation, and we adapt our procedures to follow the regulations of each state that we work in to ensure the safety of our workers as well as future travelers of the roadways and bridges we improve.

We pride ourselves on following the rules in order to protect the lives and well-being of our workers as well as to keep every job running smoothly. To get your project done right, you need a civil engineering company which is dedicated to custom solutions, project safety and your time frame. Contact Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring to get started today.

Thorcon’s Variety of Shoring and Stabilization Services

At Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring, we provide a variety of services to Colorado and sates in the surrounding area designed to stabilize structures, improve infrastructure and prevent geotechnical problems. Every single project we work on gets the attention of our team of civil engineers who create custom solutions for each situation. We also guarantee high safety standards, professional contact and efficient job completion timeframes so that each client gets a geotechnical solution which is as hassle-free as possible. As experienced shoring contractors, we provide many stabilization services and options including:

Slope failure analysis – Our engineers assess the safety of the slope in question, whether it is natural or artificial, in order to locate dangerous areas, prevent failures and estimate the risk of collapse or sliding. We will also design the cure for any problem areas to shore up slopes and ensure stabilization.
Tiebacks – We implement the use of tiebacks to reinforce and stabilize retaining walls. Our team will design a tieback solution which secures the wall to an existing or custom-built structure, ensuring maximum safety.
Micro Piles – Used to create foundations or to underpin existing foundations to strengthen them, our engineers can design a micro pile solution for your stabilization project, especially if the site is difficult to access.
Rock-bolting – Particularly useful in the Rocky Mountains, we use rock-bolting techniques to stabilize rock cuts, tunnels and excavations, with the purpose of putting the load on the inner rock mass, releasing it from the outer wall and creating a safer, more stable rock structure.
Soil-nailing – Whether used as a remedial measure or in conjunction with ongoing construction techniques, we can design a soil-nailing solution to stabilize slopes and retaining walls, keeping workers and the general public safe.
Trench shoring – Workers’ safety is paramount to us, so we provide trench shoring services as a part of larger projects, or as a safety precaution on other sites to ensure that anyone who must work in a trench is safe from the deadly dangers of trench collapses.

Located near Denver in Littleton, Colorado, Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring is proud to provide these services and more with great attention to detail and client satisfaction. Contact us today to get started on a safe, reliable and custom shoring project.

How Shotcrete and Gunite Can Help Fight Terrorism

At the beginning of the month, there was a breakthrough in the formula for steel-reinforced shotcrete/gunite which can not only make the substance sturdier, but also much more fire resistant than other forms of shotcrete. At Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring in Littleton, CO, we are always intrigued by new advances in shotcrete engineering and unique stories of shotcrete application, so we are particularly excited to discuss this story. The team at the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, who developed the new formula, speculate that this breakthrough can make structures more resistant not only to fire, but also to explosions, which are an increasing concern in cities due to threats of terrorist activities.

Steel-fiber reinforced shotcrete, itself, is not a new product. Depending on the needs of the project, commercial shotcrete contractors might choose to use unreinforced shotcrete or apply gunite with a weldmesh reinforcement. Mixtures which already have steel fibers incorporated, though, can be applied with less labor and less construction time. Typically, this kind of industrial gunite is used for surfaces in tunnels or in certain flooring applications. The new formula from Germany, however, is unique in the sheer amount of steel and synthetic fiber being used—close to 100 lbs. of steel fiber per square foot—which “was thought to be impossible for shotcrete,” according to Phys.org.

The other major benefit of this advancement is that the protective shotcrete can be applied to complex geometric structures, which were difficult to safeguard so efficiently before. Previously, compounds which could provide this level of protection from explosions could only be applied in slabs, but as Thorcon’s own work with architectural shotcrete can attest, shotcrete and gunite can be applied to a broad variety of complicated structures, and used to create a stylized finish, not just an industrial one.

In a world where attacks on our infrastructure are an increasing concern, it’s good to see that advances in geotechnical engineering can keep us safe from a variety of threats, and that even shotcrete can play a part in defense against terrorism. Check out examples of our shotcrete and gunite concrete applications on our gallery page. We are proud to provide our services to nearby Denver, the rest of Colorado and a number of states in the surrounding region. Contact us today to get started on your custom shotcrete or shoring project.

Trench Shoring Safety Makes the News in April

This month has seen a lot of discussion on shoring safety in the news, particularly in regards to trench shoring. Secure trench shoring is vital to safe excavation, as workers who get caught in a collapsed trench have almost no time to react, so OSHA takes violations of trench safety practices very seriously. Likewise, contractors and even newscasters take pains to remind people of the necessary training and precautions required to work in any trench or deep hole. At Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring, we put safety first in our practices, and are dedicated to the safe completion of every job. Here are some stories that came out in April about businesses who have and have not lived up to trench shoring safety expectations.

At the beginning of April, OSHA fined a New Jersey company after poor trench shoring caused a ditch collapse last October. Sadly, during the collapse, two men lost their lives. The OSHA representative emphasized that “two workers are killed each month in trench collapses,” which is why these investigations and fines are important. For the safety of our workers, our team at Thorcon always practices safe trench shoring, protecting against sidewall collapses with sound engineering.
Here in Colorado, two companies were fined by OSHA for failing to correctly protect their workers from trench collapse. Luckily, neither of these companies yet suffered a collapse, but safety inspections found that their workers were in danger. Especially in light of the New Jersey incident, it’s important for safety inspections to continue to protect workers against unsafe practices.
In order to further protect workers, fire departments often train in trench rescue operations. Just today, a Bakersfield, CA story came out about a recent trench rescue training operation for the local firefighters there. “Trench rescue is one of the most complex aspects of a firefighter’s job,” reports the article, which once again shows how important it is for shoring companies to implement the correct safety precautions from the beginning, so as to not risk the lives of workers or rescue crews.
To keep safety at the top of everyone’s minds, a Seattle writer and safety expert just released a piece today with explanations of safety practices while working in deep holes and trenches. She advocates trenching and shoring training for all Seattle’s workers who might find themselves in deep excavation work, arguing that “monitoring employee training and staffing the job from the beginning with the most qualified personnel for each project can prevent a number of injuries.” We agree, which is why all of our team members are trained in safety and are empowered to stop the job if they notice any kind of safety infringement.

From our headquarters in Littleton, CO, we serve Denver, the rest of Colorado as well as surrounding states with our shotcrete and shoring services. If you have a project that requires deep excavation, contact the safety experts. We’ll design a custom solution and finish the job with the utmost attention to safety and client satisfaction. At Thorcon, we are determined that none of our workers will become another statistic in the ongoing battle against poor trench shoring safety.

Soil Nails: Cost-Effective Slope Stabilization

Slope stability engineering is more than just another geotechnical engineering service. It’s a vital part of secure structural engineering which keeps people safe as they go through life in buildings, on roadways, and interact with any variety of infrastructure. Located in Colorado, we at Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring are no strangers to the importance of slope stability and erosion control as every year streams of travelers and commuters pass through the Rocky Mountains and foothills. We provide expert stabilization services, implementing soil-nailing as well as the following methods:

Slope failure analysis (and cure)
Micro Piles
Rock-bolting
Tiebacks

We always design custom solutions to fit your needs, but if your slope problem is one that can be solved by soil nails, you’ll be glad to know that soil nailing is one of the most cost effective methods for slope stabilization. The procedure is newer, and has only been around since the 1960s. It has become a popular method for everything from railway expansion to foundation excavation to slope erosion control due to its cost effectiveness and the time it can save on structural projects. Soil nailing is often far cheaper to implement than gravity or anchor walls, all while providing the same level of reliability as older stabilization methods.

From our headquarters in Littleton (just outside of Denver, Colorado), we are proud to serve all of Colorado as well as surrounding states with safety-focused, completely custom shotcrete, shoring and geotechnical engineering services. Whether you need slope stability for an ongoing project or need a viable remedial measure, our engineers will develop a plan to specifically meet your needs. Contact us today to get started.

4 Geotechnical Engineering Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

At Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring in Littleton, CO, we always aim to educate—whether that means discussing custom civil engineering plans in detail to ensure a swift and safe project, giving you further information about our geotechnical engineering services as you choose a firm that’s right for your needs, or providing fun facts through our blog. Following our story on how shotcrete is contributing to the field of ancient art, here are a few facts from geotechnical engineering history you probably didn’t know!

Geotechnical engineering is an ancient science. Examples of early geotechnical engineering and slope erosion control can be found as far back as 2000 BC, when ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt started employing construction practices to irrigate crops, create dams and dykes and even dig canals. You could argue that we owe the history of civilization to early geotechnical engineers!
We owe many geotechnical advances to military minds. Because siege warfare was so common throughout early military history, many of the best civil engineering minds were used to develop siege engines and stabilize defensive structures like ramparts. From the ancient Greeks to more modern contributors like Henri Gautier and Charles Coulomb, many breakthroughs in slope stability and geotechnical engineering were due to the needs of war.
Some geotechnical engineering failures make great tourist attractions. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the best examples of foundation-related failures, and it draws countless tourists every year (though, to be fair, engineers in the 1990s were able to stabilize the tower and keep it from toppling entirely). The famous Italian tower actually isn’t the most accidentally far-leaning structure in the world, though. That title goes to the lesser known Leaning Tower of Suurhusen in Germany—a medieval steeple which owes it’s lean to drained marshlands and rotten medieval wood. Don’t worry, modern engineers have stabilized that structure as well!
There is a “father of geotechnical engineering.” Modern geotechnical practices stem from 1925, when geologist and engineer Karl Terzaghi published the book Erdbaumechanik, in which he developed theories which allow geotechnical engineering companies all over the world to accurately calculate stress, foundation capacity and soil settling rates for slope stability.

We proudly bring our geotechnical engineering expertise to customers in Denver, the rest of Colorado and states in the surrounding region, carrying on a legacy that spans over 4000 years in order to improve infrastructure, provide firm foundations for new and existing structures, control slope erosion and much more. Contact us today to get started on a project that will exceed your expectations in safety and service.

(Image attribution: by Saffron Blaze (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

Shotcrete Construction Gets the Ultimate Artistic Treatment

Original Chauvet Drawing, Now Replicated with Shotcrete! — Example of the artwork from the original Grotte Chauvet.

Shotcrete makes international news again, this time in the world of prehistoric art. At Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring in Littleton, Colorado, we love seeing gunite concrete and shotcrete construction gain attention worldwide, so we are excited to comment on this brand new story, coming to us from France.

Anyone who has taken a basic art history class will be familiar with the famous Grotte Chauvet cave in France—where the ancient drawings of wild animals are considered the oldest examples of human art in the world. Many people have seen photos of these drawings, but due to the fragile nature of prehistoric art, the general public has never actually been allowed inside the cave. Now, people will be able to visit a complete replica of the caverns, thanks to a 55 million euro project called the Pont d’Arc Cavern. EuroNews reports today that the new cave— in which the original topography was replicated using a shotcrete base—will be open for public tours starting on April 25. With over 400 replicated images spanning across over 25 square feet of replicated cave structures, the Pont d’Arc Cavern is a fascinating example of the structural precision available using shotcrete and gunite technology.

At Thorcon, we utilize the same technology to bring you architectural shotcrete solutions as well as structural applications for commercial shotcrete and industrial gunite needs. We pride ourselves on providing unique, custom solutions for any infrastructure requirement, and we put a focus on safety and precision in all our work. Serving Denver, the rest of Colorado and states in the surrounding region, we are your best bet for premium, long-lasting shotcrete and shoring solutions. Check out our gallery for visual examples of our work, and get in touch with us today to get started on your own project. You don’t need to be replicating an ancient artistic masterpiece to get the highest quality work from Thorcon!

(Image attribution: by Inocybe at fr.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons)

Our Shoring and Shotcrete Gallery: Worth Thousands of Words!

At Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring, we’re not just interested in talking about our services. We want to show you our finished work as well as our team in action, which is why we’ve included a full gallery on our website. We specialize not only in the application of shotcrete and gunite, but also in engineering custom shoring solutions for infrastructure and architectural needs. As one of Colorado’s best shoring contractor

s, we bring attention to detail and safety to every job, and we’re proud to display our work visually on our site.

So take a look at our gallery, where you’ll find examples of:

Temporary and permanent shoring: Whether your project involves temporary trench shoring or permanent shoring solutions, our engineers will develop a custom design for your project. Then, our team will implement the design with a focus on quality work and a safe job from start to finish.
Soil nail walls: We’re proud to show off examples of our soil nailing and micropile solutions, from several jobs and several angles so you can get an idea of the quality of our work. Whether needed for retaining wall stabilization or slope stabilization, we can design and implement soil nailing solutions for your infrastructure needs.
Shotcrete and gunite walls: From structural retaining walls to stylized architectural walls, we provide premium shotcrete services to improve the look and longevity of your shoring project. Because our team specializes in all aspects of shoring services, we are able to implement a variety of solutions into your design.

Thorcon’s team of shoring contractors is proud to serve Colorado as well as states in the surrounding regions with shoring, shotcrete and soil nailing services as well as a variety of related geotechnical engineering services. From our headquarters in Littleton, CO (near Denver), we provide great customer service, unique solutions and a quality, safety-focused team. Contact us today to get started on your project!